Cassidy Hoban
Graphic designer & Visual artist
Union LA
Illustration and Typography
The creative process of collaborating with global brand Union LA and their creative director and staff to illustrate the graphic design for the ATLiens mashup T-shirt involves several steps. First, brainstorming and ideation sessions are held to generate ideas and concepts for the design. Then, the design is sketched and outlined using the pencil tool in Adobe Illustrator to get that authentic wobbly lines 90's bootleg T-shirt look. After refining the design, it is further developed and finalized in the digital illustration using various software tools. Throughout the process, close communication and collaboration with the Union LA team ensures the design accurately reflects their vision and meets their brand standards.
The second step was to carefully choose the right colors that reflect the brand's unique taste and vintage style. This involves analyzing the brand's previous designs and existing color palettes, as well as considering the latest fashion trends and the target audience. The chosen colors should complement the overall design and evoke a sense of nostalgia, while also being visually striking and memorable. Through close collaboration and feedback from the Union LA team, the final color scheme is selected to create a cohesive and impactful design that captures the essence of the brand.
Adding muted black background was around the alien the colors pop while maintaining an authentic vintage feel and look. By choosing a subdued black color, the focus was shifted towards the colorful alien design while still providing a subtle contrast that enhanced the overall aesthetic. This technique is commonly used in vintage designs and gave the T-shirt a classic, timeless feel. The right balance of color and contrast was achieved through careful consideration and experimentation, resulting in a design that was visually appealing and captured the brand's unique taste and vintage style.
To achieve the desired comic book effect for the gold teeth in the T-shirt design, I rendered different tones of yellows, brown, tan, and black. I carefully selected these colors to create the illusion of depth and shading, giving the gold teeth a more dynamic appearance. Varying the tones also added texture and detail, bringing the design to life and enhancing its overall visual impact. Through close collaboration with the client and their feedback, we were able to select the perfect combination of colors to achieve the desired comic book effect and create a design that was both unique and memorable.
The creative concept and vintage style of the T-shirt design successfully sparked feelings of nostalgia in the audience. The use of a muted black background contrasted with the bright green color of the alien achieved a classic comic book aesthetic that resonated with fans of the genre. Through careful consideration of the color palette, contrast, and texture, we were able to create a design that was visually striking and memorable. The result was a successful design that not only captured the brand's unique taste and vintage style but also appealed to the audience's sense of nostalgia.
